Causes and Associations of Severe and Persistent Specific Speech and Language Disorders in Children

Abstract

SUMMARY Eighty‐two school‐age children with severe and persistent specific speech and language disorders were studied. 71 had specific developmental language disorders, three had structural malformations (cleft palate) and eight had disorders acquired after a period of normal language development, including five with Landau‐Kleffner syndrome. The sex ratio was 38 boys to one girl. Nearly half had a family history of speech‐language disorder, with one in 52 affected siblings. Aetiological factors were found in 26 per cent: 11 per cent prenatal, 3 per cent perinatal and 12 per cent postnatal. 21 per cent had had a seizure and 7 per cent had had seizures after the age of eight. 29 per cent were left‐handed, 90 per cent were clumsy and 22 per cent first walked after 18 months. The complex origins of specific speech and language disorders are discussed. RÉSUMÉ Causes et signes associés de troubles sévères et persistants de la parole et du langage Quatre‐vingt deux écoliers présentant des troubles graves de la parole et du langage ont étéétudiés. 71 présentaient des troubles développementaux spécifiques de langage, trois avaient des malformations structurales (fente palatine et huit avaient un trouble acquis après une période de développement du langage normal, dont cinq syndromes de Landau‐Kleffner. Le sex ratio était de 3,8 garçons pour une fille. Près de la moitié avait une histoire familiale de troubles de la parole et du langage, avec un membre de fratrie atteint pour 5,2. Des facteurs étiologiques ont été trouvés dans 26 pour cent des cas: 11 pour cent pré‐nataux, 3 pour cent périnataux et 12 pour cent postnataux. 21 pour cent avaient eu une crise comitiale et 7 pour cent avaient présenté des crises avant l'âge de huit ans. 29 pour cent étaient gauchers, 90 pour cent maladroits et 22 pour cent avaient débuté la marche après 18 mois. Les origines complexes des troubles spécifiques de parole et de langage sont discutés. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Ursachen und Zusammenhänge von schweren, persistierenden Sprach‐ und Sprachverständnisstörungen bei Kindern 82 Schulkinder mit schweren Sprach‐ und Sprachverständnisstörungen wurden untersucht. 71 hatten spezifische entwicklungsbedingte Sprachstörungen, drei hatten organische Mißbildungen (Gaumenspalte) und acht hatten erworhene Störungen, die nach einer Phase der dow normalen Sprachentwicklung auftraten, fünf davon ein Landau‐Kleffner Syndrom. Die Geschlechtsverteilung betrug 3.8 Jungen auf ein Mädchen. Fast die Hälfte der Kinder hatte eine positive Familienanamnese, auf 5.2 Geschwister kam ein betroffenes Kind. Bei 26 Prozent wurden ätiologische Faktoren gefunden: 11 Prozent pränatal, drei Prozent perinatal und 12 Prozent postnatal. 21 Prozent hatten einen Anfall gehabt und sieben Prozent hatten Anfälle nach dem achten Lebensjahr. 29 Prozent waren Linkshänder, 90 Prozent waren ungeschickt und 22 Prozent konnten erst mit 18 Monaten laufen. Die verschiedenen Ursachen der Sprach‐ und Sprachverständnisstörungen werden diskutiert. RESUMEN Causas y asociaciones de alteraciones especifica...

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